10 Best Interactive Museums for Kids in Staffordshire

When the weather turns wet and miserable, children often opt not to venture outside. Staffordshire offers plenty of indoor activities that will keep all members of the family busy!

Crawl through tunnels at the Coal Mining Gallery, play with toys and games provided, complete quizzes at this family friendly museum – admission for under fours is free of charge.

1. The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

Hanley Museum showcases Staffordshire ceramics in an interesting manner and houses numerous Designated Collections including fine art, decorative arts, costume, local history, archaeology and natural history. Additionally, there are special collections such as Keiller’s 667 cow creamer jugs or Marjorie Davies 300 frog mugs; Marjorie Davies even left 300 of these special frog mugs as tribute to Reginald Mitchell himself who designed the RW388 Spitfire aircraft on display for visitors to enjoy! The gallery also hosts an RW388 Spitfire designed by Reginald Mitchell who designed its designer in memory of Reginald Mitchell who designed his Supermarine RW388 Spitfire from their creator – which they restore fully for display as a tribute.

Since February 2010, this gallery has housed items from the Staffordshire Hoard, a significant Anglo-Saxon gold collection. Redevelopment of the Saxon gallery provided visitors with greater access to this monumental treasure, while ambitious plans are in motion to extend and improve collections further. Recently, they were shortlisted for Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award 2022; judges will assess whether each museum meets Kids in Museums manifesto criteria for evaluation.

2. The National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum in York displays an expansive collection of historic railway-related objects. Additionally, this institution houses an open library and archive which holds an internationally significant collection of locomotive and rolling stock engineering drawings from railway works as well as independent manufacturing companies; copies of which can also be sold directly to heritage railway enthusiasts for use in new build and restoration projects.

At present, there are various interactive exhibits for kids including The Garage which provides them with an opportunity to jump and race objects; an art studio allows them to express their creativity; as well as an educational show titled Fire Powered that is sure to fascinate children.

Blue Star Museums offer free admission for active military personnel and their families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day; for more information visit their website.

3. The Fens Museum

From an original Spitfire to Staffordshire pottery collections, this museum provides plenty of interactive activities and exhibits for kids to enjoy. Furthermore, they have an outstanding family events calendar full of activity packs, trails and crafts!

Discover a fascinating treasure trove of historic artefacts, from Napoleon’s Sevres breakfast service reportedly used during his rule to the anti-slavery campaigner Thomas Clarkson’s collection. There are also engaging hands-on activities designed for kids like sensory play, dressing up and touch screen interactives as well as a craft workshop.

Enjoy close encounters with nature at Rudyard Lake with its waterside trails and wildlife watching opportunities, or explore exotic species at Drayton Manor Zoo and Peak Wildlife Park. Or ride thrill rides at Alton Towers/CBeebies Land/Tamworth Snowdome!

4. The Staffordshire Hoard

Terry Herbert’s 2009 discovery of an Anglo Saxon cache on farmland stunned scholars and the public alike; scholars considered it one of the most significant Anglo Saxon finds since Sutton Hoo.

But the Staffordshire Hoard is also remarkable and mysterious in its own way. Most of its pieces are military equipment; three religious items – two gold crosses and a thin strip inscribed with biblical quotation – stand out. There may have been a reason for that: many Germanic pagan leaders saw Christianity as spiritual warfare against them.

Birmingham Museums Trust and The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent share responsibility for the collection, funding a research project to unlock its mysteries. Their research will add depth to our understanding of Anglo Saxon England; specifically, researchers believe the Staffordshire Hoard may have been part of the spoils from a 7th-century pagan king who fought against Christianity spreading in Britain.

5. The National Portrait Gallery

Entertaining children is no simple task and family days out can often prove expensive, so when we come across a fun activity that won’t break the bank (or even your wallet!), that is truly exciting! When we discover something fun for just pennies per head it feels like we have struck gold!

The National Portrait Gallery provides plenty of interactive features for children. The museum provides virtual programs and exhibits as well as teacher workshops and family days.

The museum’s latest exhibit unveils the remarkable tale behind the Staffordshire Hoard, an astonishing discovery of treasured objects from Mercia in 7th Century AD that were discovered buried by their kingdom and found later by archeology excavation. These treasures tell a story of daily life, warfare with neighboring kingdoms, and power struggles among these kingdoms. Additionally, its exhibits display one of Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada’s first portraits featuring an African American woman for display within their gallery walls – it features Cuban artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada’s portrait by Cuban artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada from Cuba!

6. The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) features interactive features to assist visitors in exploring its collections. Their online search tool enables them to select artworks by title, subject matter, date of creation or date of exhibition; additionally it provides extensive details about each work such as its inscriptions, provenance history, references or exhibition histories.

The museum boasts collections in art, applied arts, social history, archaeology and ethnography spanning across art history and ethnology. Of particular note are its Pre-Raphaelite paintings collection as well as its Staffordshire Hoard.

The BMAG offers a selection of temporary exhibitions, with recent examples such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Apollo 50 commemoration events taking place. Families can relax in its Edwardian Tearoom which serves afternoon tea with gluten-free and vegan options; additionally children can purchase an activity pack ahead of time or on site.

7. Wolverhampton Museum & Art Gallery

The museum features over 50 Designated Collections that span fine and decorative arts, costume, local history, archaeology and natural history. Additionally, there is the magnificent Staffordshire Hoard Gallery and Spitfire Gallery for viewing exhibits.

The gallery boasts an assortment of interactive features designed to engage children. There are free family trails you can follow around exhibitions, and drop-in activities often hosted at the museum. There is also a cafe and Foyer Shop on site so visitors can relax.

DearTomorrow is an innovative global climate art, storytelling and public engagement organisation that encourages reflection on our individual climate legacies through participatory exhibits and intergenerational programming that build resilience while activating sustained climate action across communities – it is truly inspiring project for kids as well as adults!

8. The National Coal Mining Museum

This museum strives to engage young minds while maintaining the dignity of an industry with deep roots in society, making for an engaging experience for visitors of all ages. Take an underground tour and witness conditions miners worked under, learn about coal, mining communities, unions and strikes…etc.

Located on two former collieries, this museum showcases original features such as wages office, paddy train and pit head baths. Furthermore, there is a collection of art that documents all aspects of coal mining from industrial operations to domestic lives of workers and the domestic lives of their families. Kids will especially love interactive exhibitions and activities such as ImagiFab makerspace and EcoSphere (where visitors can construct solar panels).

9. Staffordshire Wildlife Park

Amusing kids doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg! Plan a free family day trip to Staffordshire Wildlife Park where kids can go on an indoor trail and let their imagination run free! Explore hidden caves, make a spoon puppet puppet puppets and host tea parties while dancing along noisy polka dots or sliding down monster tongues are all part of the adventure!

Winkhill near Leek is home to exotic and endangered animals from across the globe, offering walk-through enclosures as well as providing visitors with an engaging zoo experience.

One of our favourite animal attractions in Staffordshire, it offers children the chance to learn how weather and physics work while being creative using cardboard in making unique contraptions. There’s even an outstanding cafe overlooking Swan Lake! During special workshops or trails for families.

10. Eureka!

Small town where scientists are developing some of the world’s most cutting-edge technology. Many experiments end in disaster, leaving U.S. Marshal Jack Carter to keep order – or else.

Staffordshire offers something to satisfy everyone. Experience adrenaline-pumping rollercoasters or laugh your heart out at comedy; whether you prefer world-class theatre at New Vic, Victoria Hall and Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Gatehouse Theatre there is something here for you.

Experience tactical tabletop games, immersive VR or classic arcades in Stoke-on-Trent for yourself or compete against friends at tactical tabletop games, immersive VR or classic arcades – or try your luck at beer pong or crazy golf. At Sector 7 Laser Tag or Tenpin Bowling there are even more opportunities available; so the options seem almost limitless! But that could all change!